New horizons for managing ecoforests: Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and practices in Japan

A Knowledge Co-Creation Program titled "Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR)" was held from September 10th to October 11th, 2024, organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The first part of the course, from September 10 to 27, was held online, during which participants were required to listen to lectures on topics such as forest fires, landslides, water basins, the importance of coastal forests, and modern technologies in environmental protection, and subsequently pass tests for each topic individually. The face-to-face program took place from September 29 to October 12 at the JICA Center in Tsukuba, Japan. This program aims to reduce disasters, preserve and strengthen natural ecosystems in developing countries through an understanding of practical examples of Eco-DRR, including the disaster prevention functions provided by forests (water resource management, prevention of sediment-related disasters, climate change mitigation, etc.).